Thermal module

ABSTRACT

An exemplary thermal module for dissipating heat of a heat-generating component includes a fixing member, a centrifugal fan arranged on the fixing member, a heat sink and a fastener. The fixing member includes a plurality of fixing portions. The centrifugal fan includes a housing defining an air outlet and an impeller rotatably received in the housing. At least one of the fixing portions is located under the housing. The heat sink is disposed at the air outlet of the centrifugal fan. The fastener interconnects the heat sink and the housing of the centrifugal fan. The fastener is slidably connected to one of the heat sink and the housing to cause the centrifugal fan to be moveable relative to the heat sink for exposing the at least one of the fixing portions located under the housing during fixing of the thermal module to the heat-generating component.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to a co-pending application entitled as “HEAT DISSIPATION APPARATUS”, assigned to the same assignee of this application and filed on the same date. The disclosure of the co-pending application is wholly incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to thermal modules, and more particularly to a thermal module which can be assembled to a heat generating component easily.

2. Description of Related Art

With the continuing development of electronics technology, electronic components of electronic devices, such as central processing units (CPUs), memory modules, and video graphics array (VGA) chips, generate much heat in operation. The heat needs to be dissipated efficiently to ensure the continued proper functioning of the electronic device.

Generally, a thermal module is provided to dissipate heat of the electronic component. The thermal module includes a fixing plate, a centrifugal fan arranged on the fixing plate, a heat sink arranged at an air outlet of the centrifugal fan, and a heat pipe for transferring heat of the electronic component to the heat sink. The fixing plate defines a plurality of mounting holes therein. Screws are extended through the mounting holes to attach the thermal module to the electronic component.

Typically, the thermal module is assembled for the purposes of packaging or transportation. Thus several of the mounting holes of the fixing plate may be covered by the centrifugal fan. Later on, when the thermal module is attached to an electronic component, the centrifugal fan must be detached from the fixing plate to expose the mounting holes, and then attached again to the fixing plate after the fixing plate is fixed to the electronic component. Such detaching and reattaching is inconvenient.

What is needed, therefore, is a thermal module to overcome the above-described limitations.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric, assembled view of a thermal module, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of an elastic member of the thermal module shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a fixing plate of the thermal module shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4, taken along line V-V thereof.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a fastener of the thermal module shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a thermal module 10 according to an exemplary embodiment is shown. The thermal module 10 includes a first heat spreader 11, a second heat spreader 12, a fixing member 13, a heat sink 15, a first heat pipe 16, two second heat pipes 17, and a centrifugal fan 18.

The first heat spreader 11 is made of metal or metal alloy which has a high heat conductivity coefficient, such as copper or copper-alloy. The first heat spreader 11 is rectangular and flat. The first heat spreader 11 includes a planar bottom face 110 configured for contacting a heat generating component (not shown), and a planar top face 112. The heat generating component is typically an electronic component. Two elastic members 19 are fixedly joined to the top face 112 of the first heat spreader 11. The two elastic members 19 are arranged parallel to each other, and are spaced from each other. Each elastic member 19 is formed by bending a narrow metal sheet.

The two elastic members 19 are identical to each other. Referring also to FIG. 3, each elastic member 19 includes a fixing piece 190, and two latching pieces 192 bending from opposite ends of the fixing piece 190, respectively. The fixing piece 190 is fixed on the top face 112 of the first heat spreader 11. A middle of the fixing piece 190 protrudes upwards to form a bridge 191. In this embodiment, the bridge 191 includes two connecting portions 195 extending perpendicularly from the fixing piece 190, and a resisting portion 193 interconnecting top ends of the connecting portions 195. The resisting portion 193 is parallel to, and is spaced apart from, the fixing piece 190. A space 100 is thus formed between the resisting portion 193 and the first heat spreader 11, for receiving the first heat pipe 16.

Each of the latching pieces 192 includes an elongated portion 194 and a latching portion 196. The two elongated portions 194 of the latching pieces 192 are straight, and extend aslant from opposite ends of the fixing piece 190 generally toward each other. The latching portions 196 of the latching pieces 192 are respectively formed at top ends of the elongated portions 194, and are configured like a pair of symmetrically opposite angle brackets. More specifically, each latching portion 196 is generally V-shaped, and includes a first section 197 bending outward and upwards from the elongated portion 194 generally away from the other latching portion 196, and a second section 198 bending inward and upwards from the first section 197 generally toward the other latching portion 196. Thus a distance between the two junctions of the latching portions 196 and the elongated portions 194 is smaller than that between the first sections 197 of the latching portions 196.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, the second heat spreader 12 is also made of metal or metal alloy which has a high heat conductivity coefficient. The second heat spreader 12 is rectangular; and includes a planar bottom surface 124 configured for contacting another heat generating component (not shown), and a top surface 126. Two upper grooves 120 are defined in the top surface 126 of the second heat spreader 12. The upper grooves 120 are straight and parallel to each other. Each upper groove 120 extends through the second heat spreader 12 along a longitudinal direction of the second heat spreader 12. A cross section of each of the upper grooves 120 is semicircular. A securing portion 121 extends outwards from each lateral side of the second heat spreader 12. Two securing holes 122 are defined in each of the securing portions 121.

The fixing member 13 is also made of metal or metal alloy which has a high heat conductivity coefficient, such as aluminum or aluminum-alloy. The fixing member 13 is integrally formed as a single monolithic piece. The fixing member 13 includes a first fixing plate 130 mounted on the first heat spreader 11, a second fixing plate 140 mounted on the second heat spreader 12, and a connecting plate 131 interconnecting the first fixing plate 130 and the second fixing plate 140.

The first fixing plate 130 defines two slots 133 corresponding to the elastic members 19. The slots 133 are elongated, and are parallel to each other. Each slot 133 extends through the first fixing plate 130 along the thickness direction of the first fixing plate 130. A length of the slot 133 is shorter than the distance between the junctions of the latching portions 196 and the elongated portions 194 of the latching pieces 192 when the latching pieces 192 are in a free state. Referring also to FIGS. 4 and 5, a protrusion 136 extends from the first fixing plate 130 into the slot 133 at each end of the slot 133. A profile of a cross section of the protrusion 136 is generally V-shaped. The protrusion 136 includes a first outer side 137 a and a second outer side 137 b extending aslant from the end of the slot 133, with the first and second outer sides 137 a, 137 b meeting at an apex of the V-shape.

Referring back to FIG. 1 again, when the thermal module 10 is assembled, the first fixing plate 130 of the fixing member 13 is arranged over the first heat spreader 11 such that the slots 133 are aligned with the elastic members 19. A force is applied to the latching pieces 192 of each elastic member 19 to decrease the distance between the latching pieces 192, and thereby the latching portions 196 of each elastic member 19 can extend through the corresponding slot 133 of the first fixing plate 130. Therefore, the protrusions 136 of the first fixing plate 130 are engaged with the junctions of the elongated portions 194 and the latching portions 196 of the latching pieces 192 to avoid disengagement of the elastic members 19 from the first fixing plate 130. Thus the first heat spreader 11 is connected to the first fixing plate 130 of the fixing member 13, as shown in FIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 2 again, the second fixing plate 140 is rectangular, and has a size the same as that of the second heat spreader 12. Two lower grooves 143 are formed at a bottom of the second fixing plate 140, corresponding to the upper grooves 120 of the second heat spreader 12. A cross section of each lower groove 143 is semicircular. When assembled, the second fixing plate 140 is disposed on the second heat spreader 12 such that the lower grooves 143 are aligned with the upper grooves 120. Screws (not shown) extend through the securing holes 122 of the second heat spreader 12 and are engaged in the second fixing plate 140. In this way, the second heat spreader 12 is attached to the fixing member 13. Thus, each upper groove 120 and one corresponding lower groove 143 together form a cylindrical channel for receiving one second heat pipe 17.

Four fixing portions 142 extend outward from four corners of the second fixing plate 140, respectively. A fixing hole 144 is defined in an outer end of each fixing portion 142, for assembling of the fixing member 13 to one or more electronic components. A supporting plate 145 is connected between outer ends of two of the fixing portions 142 which are farthest away from the first fixing plate 130. An ear 132 extends integrally outward from the connecting plate 131 at a position near the first fixing plate 130. A circular hole 138 is defined in the ear 132. An opening 139 is defined in the ear 132 at a side facing the first fixing plate 130. The opening 139 communicates the circular hole 138 with the outside. A width of the opening 139 is slightly narrower than a diameter of the circular hole 138.

The heat sink 15 is arranged on the supporting plate 145 of the fixing member 13, and includes a plurality of fins 150 spacedly stacked in parallel along a longitudinal direction of the supporting plate 145. Three channels 152 extend through the heat sink 15 for receiving the first heat pipe 16 and the second heat pipes 17. A tab 153 extends from a corner of each outmost fin 150 of the heat sink 15 toward the second fixing plate 140. Each of the tabs 153 is parallel to the fins 150 of the heat sink 15. A through hole 154 is defined in each tab 153. An aperture 155 is defined in each tab 153 for communicating the through hole 154 with the outside. A width of the aperture 155 is slightly narrower than a diameter of the through hole 154. Preferably, the diameter of the through hole 154 is equal to that of the circular hole 138 of the ear 132, and the width of the aperture 155 is equal to that of the opening 139 of the ear 132.

The first heat pipe 16 includes an evaporation section 160 and a condensing section 162 respectively formed at opposite ends thereof. Each of the second heat pipes 17 includes an evaporation section 170 and a condensing section 172 respectively formed at opposite ends thereof. The evaporation section 160 of the first heat pipe 16 is received in the space 100 formed between the bridge 191 of the elastic members 19 and the first heat spreader 11, while the condensing section 162 of the first heat pipe 16 is received in one of the channels 152 of the heat sink 15. The evaporation sections 170 of the second heat pipes 17 are respectively received in the cylindrical channels formed by the upper grooves 120 of the second heat spreader 12 and the lower grooves 143 of the second fixing plate 140. The condensing sections 172 of the second heat pipes 17 are respectively received in the other two channels 152 of the heat sink 15. Thus the heat sink 15, the first heat pipe 16, the second heat pipes 17, the first heat spreader 11, the second heat spreader 12, and the fixing member 13 are connected together.

The centrifugal fan 18 is slidably mounted on the second fixing plate 140 of the fixing member 13 by three fasteners 20. The fasteners 20 are made of rubber, and are elastic. Referring also to FIG. 6, each fastener 20 includes a head 21, and a pole 22 smaller than the head 21 in diameter. An annular notch 23 is defined in the head 21 of the fastener 20. The diameter of the head 21 at the annular notch 23 is slightly larger than the widths of the opening 139 of the ear 132 and the apertures 155 of the tabs 153, but not larger than the diameters of the circular hole 138 and the through holes 154. A locking portion 24 protrudes outward from the pole 22 of the fastener 20 at a position adjacent to the head 21. An outer surface 242 of the locking portion 24 converges along the longitudinal direction of the pole 22 from an end adjacent to the head 21 to an opposite end away from the head 21. Part of the outer surface 242 of the locking portion 24 is cut to form two opposite flat surfaces 240, for facilitating assembly of the fastener 20 to the centrifugal fan 18.

The centrifugal fan 18 includes a housing 180, and an impeller 182 rotatably received in the housing 180. An air outlet 183 is defined in the housing 180 and faces the heat sink 15, whereby airflow generated by the centrifugal fan 18 can directly flow to the heat sink 15. Two sliding members 184 extend outward from the housing 180 at opposite ends of the air outlet 183 toward the heat sink 15. The sliding members 184 are elongated, and parallel to the fins 150 of the heat sink 15. A distance between the sliding members 184 is slightly larger than a distance between the tabs 153 of the heat sink 15. A sliding groove 185 is defined in each of the sliding members 184. Each sliding member 184 is elongated, with a length thereof much greater than a width thereof. Preferably, the width of the sliding groove 185 is slightly greater than the diameter of the pole 22 of the corresponding fastener 20, but slightly less than a minimum width of the locking portion 24 of the fastener 20.

A mounting portion 186 extends outward from the housing 180, corresponding to the ear 132 of the fixing member 13. In this embodiment, the two sliding members 184 are arranged symmetrically about an axis (not shown) defined by the mounting portion 186. A mounting hole 187 is defined in the mounting portion 186, corresponding to the circular hole 138 of the ear 132. Preferably, a diameter of the mounting hole 187 is equal to the width of the sliding groove 185 of the sliding member 184. That is, the diameter of the mounting hole 187 is greater than the diameter of the pole 22 of the corresponding fastener 20, but slightly less than the minimum width of the locking portion 24 of the fastener 20.

When assembling the fasteners 20 to the centrifugal fan 18, the locking portions 24 of the fasteners 20 are squeezed to decrease the widths thereof, and thus can be extended through the sliding grooves 185 of the sliding members 184 and the mounting hole 187 of the mounting portion 186, respectively. Thus, the fasteners 20 are assembled on the centrifugal fan 18, with the mounting portion 186 and the sliding members 184 engaged between the heads 21 and the locking portions 24 of the respective fasteners 20. Since the sliding grooves 185 are elongated, the poles 22 of the two fasteners 20 on the sliding members 184 can slide along the sliding grooves 185. In this embodiment, after being assembled, the heads 21 of the two fasteners 20 engaged with the sliding members 184 are located between the sliding members 184, and the head 21 of the fastener 20 engaged with the mounting portion 186 is located below the mounting portion 186.

The centrifugal fan 18 with the fasteners 20 is then mounted onto the second fixing plate 140 of the fixing member 13 such that the annular notches 23 of the heads 21 of the fasteners 20 on the sliding members 184 are aligned with the apertures 155 of the tabs 153. The heads 21 of the two fasteners 20 are respectively pushed into the circular holes 138 via the apertures 155. Since the diameters of the two fasteners 20 at the annular notches 23 are larger than the widths of the apertures 155, the fasteners 20 are fixedly engaged in the through holes 154 of the tabs 153 of the heat sink 15. That is, the components of the thermal module 10, i.e., the centrifugal fan 18, the heat sink 15, the first heat pipe 16, the second heat pipes 17, the first heat spreader 11, the second heat spreader 12 and the fixing member 13 are connected together.

For assembling the thermal module 10 to the electronic components, the first heat spreader 11 and the second heat spreader 12 are disposed onto two different electronic components with the fixing holes 144 of the fixing member 13 aligned with corresponding holes (not shown) of a circuit board on which the electronic components are arranged. The centrifugal fan 18 is pushed to move toward the first fixing plate 130 to expose the two fixing holes 144 farthest away from the first fixing plate 130. In such a state, the poles 22 of the fasteners 20 on the sliding members 184 are located at outmost ends of the sliding grooves 185. The head 21 of the fastener 20 on the mounting portion 186 is at a lateral side of the ear 132 of the fixing member 13, and faces the opening 139. Thus, screws (not shown) can extend through the four fixing holes 144 of the fixing member 13 to engage with the circuit board to fix the thermal module 10 to the electronic component.

After the thermal module 10 is fixed, the centrifugal fan 18 is pushed to slide toward the heat sink 15, and thus cause the head 21 of the fastener 20 on the mounting portion 186 to engage in the circular hole 138 of the ear 132 via the opening 139. Thereby, the stability of the centrifugal fan 18 is enhanced. As shown in FIG. 1, in such a state, the heat sink 15 is adjacent to the air outlet 183 of the centrifugal fan 18, the two fasteners 20 on the sliding members 184 are located adjacent to the air outlet 183 of the centrifugal fan 18, and the two fixing holes 144 which are farthest away from the first fixing plate 130 are located under and shaded by the centrifugal fan 18. Therefore, the thermal module 10 can be assembled to the electronic components easily.

During operation, the heat of the first heat spreader 11 and the second heat spreader 12 absorbed from the two different electronic components is timely transferred to the heat sink 15 by the first heat pipe 16 and the second heat pipes 17, and finally is taken away to the outside by the airflow of the centrifugal fan 18. Therefore, the thermal module 10 can take away the heat from the two electronic components simultaneously.

It is to be understood, however, that even though numerous characteristics and advantages of certain embodiments have been set forth in the foregoing description, together with details of the structures and functions of the embodiments, the disclosure is illustrative only, and changes may be made in detail, especially in matters of shape, size, and arrangement of parts within the principles of the disclosure to the full extent indicated by the broad general meaning of the terms in which the appended claims are expressed. 

1. A thermal module for dissipating heat of a heat-generating component, the thermal module comprising: a fixing member comprising a plurality of fixing portions for fixing the thermal module; and a centrifugal fan arranged on the fixing member, and comprising a housing and an impeller rotatably received in the housing, the housing defining an air outlet therein, at least one of the fixing portions located under the housing; a heat sink disposed at the air outlet of the centrifugal fan; and a fastener interconnecting the heat sink and the housing of the centrifugal fan, wherein the fastener is slidably connected to one of the heat sink and the housing to cause the centrifugal fan to be moveable relative to the heat sink for exposing the at least one of the fixing portions located under the housing during fixing of the thermal module.
 2. The thermal module of claim 1, wherein the fastener comprises a head and a pole smaller than the head in diameter, the head being fixed on the heat sink, and the pole being slidably engaged in the housing of the centrifugal fan.
 3. The thermal module of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a sliding member extending toward the heat sink, an elongated sliding groove being defined in the sliding member, and the pole of the fastener engaged in the sliding groove of the sliding groove.
 4. The thermal module of claim 3, wherein the pole of the fastener comprises a locking portion protruding outward therefrom at a position adjacent to the head, the sliding member being sandwiched between the locking portion and the head of the fastener.
 5. The thermal module of claim 4, wherein an outer surface of the locking portion converges along the longitudinal direction of the pole away from the head, and part of the outer surface of the locking portion forms a cut flat surface for facilitating extending of the locking portion through the sliding groove.
 6. The thermal module of claim 2, wherein an annular notch is defined in the head of the fastener, the heat sink being engaged in the annular notch of the head of the fastener.
 7. The thermal module of claim 6, wherein the heat sink comprises a plurality of fins stacked together, a tab extending from an outmost fin of the heat sink toward the air outlet of the housing and engaged in the notch of the head of the fastener.
 8. The thermal module of claim 7, wherein a through hole is defined in the tab, and an aperture is defined in the tab for communicating the through hole with the outside, a diameter of the head at the annular notch being not smaller than a diameter of the through hole but being smaller than a width of the aperture.
 9. The thermal module of claim 2, wherein the fastener is rubber and elastic.
 10. The thermal module of claim 2, wherein the housing comprises a mounting portion extending outward therefrom at a position away from the air outlet, and the mounting portion is connected to the fixing member.
 11. The thermal module of claim 10, further comprising another fastener, a head of the another fastener engaged with the fixing member and a pole of the another fastener engaged with the mounting portion of the fixing member to connect the mounting portion to the fixing member.
 12. The thermal module of claim 11, wherein the fixing member comprises an ear extending outward therefrom, a circular hole being defined in the ear, and an opening being defined in the ear communicating the circular hole with the outside, the opening and the air outlet of the centrifugal fan being located at opposite sides of the circular hole.
 13. The thermal module of claim 12, wherein a width of the opening is smaller than a diameter of the circular hole, and the head of the another fastener is deformably received in the circular hole via the opening.
 14. The thermal module of claim 1, wherein the fixing member further comprises a first fixing plate, a second fixing plate, a connecting plate interconnecting the fixing plate and the second fixing plate, and a supporting plate, the fixing portions extending outward from the second fixing plate, and the supporting plate formed between two of the fixing portions which are farthest away from the first fixing plate.
 15. The thermal module of claim 14, wherein a fixing hole is defined in each of the fixing portions.
 16. A thermal module for dissipating heat of a heat-generating component, the thermal module comprising: a fixing member comprising a fixing plate adapted for contacting the heat-generating component and a plurality of fixing portions around the fixing plate for fixing the thermal module to the heat-generating component; and a centrifugal fan arranged on the fixing member, and comprising a housing and an impeller rotatably received in the housing, the housing defining an air outlet therein, at least one of the fixing portions located under the housing; a heat sink disposed at the air outlet of the centrifugal fan, the heat sink comprising a plurality of fins stacked along the air outlet; and a fastener interconnecting the heat sink and the housing of the centrifugal fan, wherein the fastener is slidably connected to one of the heat sink and the housing to cause the centrifugal fan to be moveable relative to the heat sink for exposing the at least one of the fixing portions located under the housing during fixing of the thermal module.
 17. The thermal module of claim 16, wherein the fastener comprises a head and a pole smaller than the head in diameter, a tab extending from an outmost fin of the heat sink toward the air outlet of the housing and engaged with the head of the fastener, and a sliding member extending from the housing toward the heat sink, an elongated sliding groove being defined in the sliding member, the pole of the fastener being engaged in the sliding groove of the sliding groove.
 18. The thermal module of claim 17, wherein the pole of the fastener comprises a locking portion protruding outward therefrom at a position adjacent to the head, an outer surface of the locking portion converging along the longitudinal direction of the pole away from the head, the sliding member being sandwiched between the locking portion and the head of the fastener.
 19. The thermal module of claim 17, wherein an annular notch is defined in the head of the fastener, a through hole is defined in the tab, and an aperture is defined in the tab for communicating the through hole with the outside, the outmost fin of the heat sink being engaged in the annular notch of the head of the fastener, a diameter of the head at the annular notch being not smaller than a diameter of the through hole but being smaller than a width of the aperture.
 20. The thermal module of claim 16, wherein the fastener is rubber and elastic. 